Understanding AS9120 and AS9100 certifications is essential for aerospace parts distributors seeking vendor approval from OEMs, defense contractors, and major airlines. While AS9100 governs organizations that design and manufacture aerospace hardware, AS9120 is built specifically for pass-through stockists and distributors who procure, store, and resell components without altering their physical configuration.
Entering the commercial and military supply chain requires more than a clean warehouse and a commercial registration. Prime contractors and airline quality departments demand independent registrar certification under the IAQG aerospace quality series. Knowing which standard matches your business model ensures you invest time and capital in the right quality management system from day one.
Key Takeaways
- AS9100 is the international quality management standard for organizations that design, develop, or manufacture aerospace products.
- AS9120 is tailored specifically for pass-through distributors and stockists, focusing on lot traceability, packaging, and supplier control.
- Both standards build upon ISO 9001 while adding stringent aerospace risk management, counterfeit prevention, and configuration controls.
- Certified distributors appear in the global IAQG OASIS database, which airline and defense buyers check during supplier vetting.
AS9100 vs AS9120: Who Needs Which Standard?
The AS91xx family of quality management standards was established by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) to create uniform quality controls across global aerospace supply chains. However, applying the wrong standard creates immediate audit friction. AS9100 applies to organizations involved in design, production, and manufacturing operations, including parts manufacturers, engine builders, and airframe assemblers. It mandates rigorous controls over engineering drawings, tool calibration, production process verification, and design changes.
AS9120 (currently transitioning alongside the broader aerospace series toward IA9120) applies exclusively to distributors and stockists who buy and resell parts. Because a distributor does not machine metal or alter product design, AS9120 omits manufacturing-specific clauses while adding rigorous requirements for lot splitting, traceability retention, shelf-life control, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. If your business acts as an independent parts dealer, stocking rotable inventory for airline Approved Vendor Lists, AS9120 is the correct accreditation framework.
| Requirement | AS9100 (Manufacturers) | AS9120 (Distributors) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Scope | Design, development, and production | Procurement, stocking, and resale |
| Design Controls | Comprehensive (Full product design) | None (Pass-through distribution) |
| Production Verification | Mandatory first article inspections | Incoming verification and visual inspection |
| Lot & Batch Splitting | Manufacturing work orders | Distributor traceability and sub-lot retention |
| Registry Database | IAQG OASIS Directory | IAQG OASIS Directory |
Core Elements of an AS9120 Quality Management System
Earning AS9120 accreditation requires building a comprehensive quality manual that satisfies external registrars and customer auditors. Key operational areas include:
- Supplier Evaluation and Vetting: Maintaining an approved supplier list based on historical performance, quality history, and verification of required documents to sell used aircraft parts.
- Traceability and Lot Retention: Ensuring that when bulk hardware packages are split into smaller customer orders, every sub-lot retains complete tracking back to the original manufacturer or FAA 8130-3 and EASA Form 1 certification.
- Counterfeit Parts Prevention: Implementing strict detection, quarantine, and reporting controls aligned with industry standards to prevent Suspected Unapproved Parts from entering inventory.
- Control of Records: Retaining receiving inspection reports, customer purchase orders, and traceability binders for defined retention periods.
For companies also aligning with FAA Advisory Circular AC 00-56, an AS9120 or ASA-100 quality system serves as the foundational audit standard required to join the public distributor accreditation registry.
The Certification Audit Process: From Setup to OASIS Listing
Achieving certification is a structured multi-month project. Most organizations begin by conducting a gap analysis against ISO 9001 baseline principles before drafting aviation-specific procedures. Your team must operate under the new quality manual for a minimum operational window—often several months, depending on readiness—generating real receiving logs, internal audit records, and management reviews.
The external certification audit occurs in two stages:
- Stage 1 (Readiness Review): The registrar examines your quality manual, documented procedures, and facility layout to confirm readiness for full evaluation.
- Stage 2 (Registration Audit): Auditors interview warehouse staff, inspect incoming inspection benches, verify quarantine security, and test trace retention on active rotable inventory.
Once any corrective actions are closed, the registrar issues your certificate and registers your company in the global IAQG OASIS (Online Aerospace Supplier Information System) database, making your accreditation instantly verifiable for global procurement teams.
How Certifications Impact Marketplace Standing and Pricing
While achieving AS9120 or ASA-100 accreditation demands upfront consulting, audit fees, and ongoing calibration expenses, it fundamentally transforms a dealership's market position. Major commercial airlines, defense primes, and corporate flight departments will not issue vendor codes to unvetted brokers.
Furthermore, accredited distributors handling high-value rotables can command stronger margins when pricing aircraft parts, because buyers have total confidence in the integrity of the accompanying trace packages. When paired with proper oversight from a certificated Part 145 repair station, robust quality management protects both your customers and your business from liability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a parts distributor get certified under AS9100 instead of AS9120?
No. Certification bodies and the IAQG audit distributors against AS9120 because AS9100 contains extensive manufacturing and design clauses that do not apply to pass-through stockist operations. Registrars will reject AS9100 scope applications for non-manufacturing distributors.
What is the IAQG OASIS database?
OASIS (Online Aerospace Supplier Information System) is the global directory maintained by the International Aerospace Quality Group that lists all companies holding valid AS9100, AS9110, and AS9120 certifications, allowing aviation buyers worldwide to verify supplier accreditation instantly.
Does AS9120 certification eliminate the need for FAA AC 00-56 accreditation?
They serve different functions but work together. AS9120 is your international quality management system certification, while FAA AC 00-56 is a voluntary US distributor accreditation program that specifically recognizes AS9120 (alongside ASA-100) as an accepted quality standard for inclusion in the FAA's distributor registry.